The U.S. Capitol physician said early this morning that Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D. underwent successful brain surgery for an arteriovenous malformation, a condition which causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large. Johnson, who did not suffer a stroke or a heart attack, remains in critical but stable condition.
Adm. John Eisold, attending physician of the United States Capitol, said this morning, “Subsequent to
his admission to George Washington University Hospital (Wednesday), Senator Tim Johnson was found to have had an intracerebral bleed caused by a congenital arteriovenous malformation. He underwent successful surgery to
evacuate the blood and stabilize the malformation.
“The Senator is recovering without complication in the critical care unit at George Washington University Hospital. It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long term prognosis.
Should Johnson be unable to return to the Senate, the Democrat’s one-vote majority would be in jeopardy as Johnson’s replacement would be appointed by South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, a Republican loyalist. With a 50-50 tie in the Senate, the Republicans could gain the majority because Vice President Dick Cheney, a Republican, would have the tie-breaking vote.
Johnson, who turns 60 on Dec. 28, was rushed to George Washington University Hospital on Wednesday after he became disoriented during a late-morning conference call with reporters. He stuttered in response to a question, appeared to recover, but then complained of not feeling well after walking back to his office.
Johnson’s wife Barbara was with her husband all afternoon, said a spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher. She had been at the Capitol to attend a luncheon with him and was there when he became ill. The couple’s sons were flying into Washington, Fisher said. The older son, Brooks, had served in Afghanistan and is currently serving in Iraq.
Johnson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004. He underwent surgery and is free of the disease.
An unassuming fourth generation South Dakotan, Johnson was first elected to the Senate in 1996, after serving 10 years in the House, where he had replaced Tom Daschle, a fellow Democrat who ran for Senate and ultimately became Senate Majority Leader.
He faced a tough race in 2002, running against John Thune, a Republican. With the state suffering billions of dollars in losses from a severe drought, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Daschle promised $5 billion in drought relief, and Mr. Johnson won narrowly after President Bush came to the state for Mr. Thune and declined to announce that he would support that relief.
Thune went on to beat Daschle in 2004.
Thune and his wife Kimberley said: “Our prayers are with Senator Johnson and his family during this difficult time. We encourage all South Dakotans to keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers.”
The White House also issued a statement wishing him a speedy recovery.
South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds said, “our prayers are with Tim, Barbara and their family. We are hopeful of good news for our friend and colleague.”
Senate Democratic leader Harry M. Reid of Nevada was by Johnson’s side at the hospital, a visible sign of Johnson’s stature at a time when Democrats hold a razor-thin margin.
After the Nov. 7 election, Democrats earned a 51-to-49 edge in the Senate, which convenes Jan. 4.
But if Johnson’s illness proves severe enough that he must leave office, Gov. Rounds, a Republican, would appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy until 2008, when Johnson is up for re-election.
Rounds’ track record suggests he would pick a Republican. When longtime Democratic state Sen. Dick Hagen of Pine Ridge died in 2002, Rounds appointed a Republican to replace him – even though Democrats held a huge majority in that district.
The replacement senator, Michael LaPointe, ran for the office in the next election and was soundly beaten by a Democrat.
The New York Times contributed to this report.
